From Weston-super-Mare to the Euro 2024 final: Ollie Watkins, England’s unlikely hero
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Bobby Charlton, Harry Kane, and Ollie Watkins are three football players who have scored a winning goal in a semi-final match for the England team. Charlton and Kane are both well-known for their goal-scoring abilities, with Charlton being the all-time leading goalscorer for England and Kane currently holding that title. Charlton also received a knighthood for his achievements, and it is possible that Kane may also receive this honor after his retirement if England wins Euro 2024. On the other hand, Watkins comes from Weston-super-Mare and used to play in the Conference South league when Kobbie Mainoo was playing in a European Championships semi-final. At the age Jude Bellingham is now, Watkins was playing in League Two for Exeter.
Watkins could be seen as a great example of the type of player that Gareth Southgate's England team produces. It brings to mind Kieran Trippier's goal in the 2018 World Cup semi-final, a feat only previously achieved by Charlton and Gary Lineker for the country. Under Southgate's leadership, England has bucked the trend of underperforming on the international stage. They have also elevated some unexpected players to a special status. Watkins will make the journey from Weston-super-Mare to West Berlin, where he will potentially play in the Olympiastadion. Regardless of what happens, he will forever be linked with Dortmund.
"I never imagined I would have the opportunity to compete in the Euros representing England," he reminisced about his time playing in non-league over ten years ago. "Dreams are nice, but I always believed in being realistic. At that time, my main focus was trying to secure a spot on the Exeter team."
However, staying true to reality can sometimes result in unexpected and fantastical outcomes. England's games against the Netherlands have seen impressive goals scored by center-forwards like Marco van Basten, Alan Shearer, and most recently Watkins. Watkins serves as an inspiration for those who slowly but steadily work towards achieving their goals.
He has climbed the ranks: starting with three seasons at Exeter, then three at Brentford, and now four at Aston Villa. He went from fighting against relegation to making it to the Champions League. His career has a grounded, humble quality to it; he was signed by Dean Smith twice, but it was Unai Emery who really took him to the next level. He didn't immediately impress at Exeter, Brentford, or even when playing for England. In his first 13 games, he only scored three goals and his performances were more shaky than outstanding.
Watkins has not been a good match for Southgate's team, as he is very different from Kane and has struggled to find his place. Watkins is a fast runner who is not as strong as Kane. He has lost his position as the substitute striker to Ivan Toney, who is better at receiving passes. Despite scoring 27 goals for Villa, Watkins has only played for 20 minutes in the tournament.
"I'm feeling a little annoyed," he mentioned. "This has been the greatest season of my career so far. Some friends have advised me to remain patient." In addition to those messages, he received a significant number predicting that he would score in the semi-final, which he thought was absurd. Despite this, he had faith in those predictions. He even had a precise idea of how he would score. "I can guarantee you that I told Cole Palmer he would assist me and I would score."
And that's exactly what happened. Watkins admitted, "I'm not the best at holding the ball up." But he excels at making runs behind the defense. So when Palmer made the pass, he sprinted past the defenders and scored a goal between Stefan de Vrij's legs.
"Southgate mentioned that Ollie Watkins has been putting in that level of effort in training consistently. This shows that he has been prepared for his chance to shine. Just like Joselu in the Champions League semi-final, it goes to show that even substitute players can make a big impact during a crucial match. Being on the bench for a competitive team can lead to those unforgettable moments."
Fortunately for Watkins, the moment he had been waiting for happened in a way that he really enjoyed. "It felt like time slowed down when I ran over to celebrate with my teammates," he recalled. The substitutes rushed onto the field in excitement. After the final whistle blew, Kane headed straight for Watkins. The crowd cheered for the player who could potentially win the Ballon d'Or. "Ollie is a hero, he really came through for us," Bellingham praised.
"Extremely happy for him, it's a significant achievement," expressed Southgate, the ex-Villa leader who was previously criticized for not selecting Watkins. However, Watkins has always been one to challenge himself. He has experience playing in lower divisions and has switched positions multiple times during his career, even playing on the wing at Brentford due to team dynamics.
He made his debut in professional football against Hartlepool. He may make his next appearance against Spain. His previous goal in League Two was against Carlisle, and his most recent goal knocked the Netherlands out of Euro 2024. After finishing in 17th place in the Conference South with Weston-super-Mare, he has the chance to become a champion of Europe on Sunday.
